Swimming discounts continue in Southwark despite government cuts

Southwark Council with its leisure centre partner Fusion introduced free swimming in April 2009 with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

But in June the government announced that it would no longer fund the service.

More than two thousand free visits to Southwark's swimming pools were funded in an average month under this scheme.

It would cost the authority a considerable amount of money to keep the service going, and at a time when the government has announced that departments may face upwards of 25 per cent cuts, the council cannot afford to take money from other services.

However, Fusion has agreed to fund to the service throughout the summer holidays.

Then from September the council will introduce a scheme through which under-16s and over-60s will be able to enjoy discounted swimming fees of 60p.

Councillor Veronica Ward, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and the Olympics, said: "It's great news for the borough's young people that we're going to be able to keep free swimming going over the holidays. I would like to thank Fusion and the council's leisure team for making this happen. But the government's decision to axe the service was really disappointing.

"Young people and their families value the opportunity for a cheap day out and it helps to build a culture of exercise and healthy living in a borough with the highest levels of childhood obesity in England. For older people, not only is swimming an excellent way to keep fit and healthy, but it also reduces isolation and social exclusion.

"Although we still don't have the detail we know that the council faces unprecedented, game-changing funding cuts from government. We are going to do everything we can as a council to rise to the challenge, but unfortunately we will not be able to shield every service."